->''"We've got the whole wide world in our yard to explore..."''-->-- '''Opening theme'''

A Canadian 3D CGI-animated series broadcast worldwide, mostly on Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} networks. The series debuted in 2004 (based upon a pilot from 1998) and ended in 2010.

The cast are all young FunnyAnimal friends: Uniqua the... [[CartoonCreature "uniqua"]], Pablo the penguin, Tyrone the moose, Tasha the hippo, and Austin the kangaroo. All five live in what appears to be a suburban cul-de-sac with a large common backyard area.

We open on one or more of the characters in the backyard playing "pretend", setting up the scenario for the viewer in a song and dance which also reveals the episode's musical genre. Then things segue into a sort of [[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration holodeck-style]] fantasy -- whether in the kids' imaginations or literally isn't quite clear -- in which the backyard is transformed into the setting of the story and the characters dressed in appropriate costumes. From here the quest is treated entirely as if it were real...albeit clearly based on a child's logic...and frequently interrupted by musical asides.

Most episodes feature typical fantasy scenarios -- cowboys, superheroes, pirates, explorers -- but some are more sophisticated, and in later seasons especially several are full-on parodies of adult action-adventure: ''Film/JamesBond'', ''Franchise/StarTrek'', ''Franchise/IndianaJones'', ''Franchise/GhostBusters'', etc. Further [[MrImagination blurring the line between reality and imagination]], the setting they create doesn't always stay within their control. Characters who weren't seen initiating the fantasy frequently show up within it, occasionally operating completely unbeknownst to the others, and the different plotlines collide in unexpected ways. The only consistent requirement is that a story contain no more than five characters, since no other speaking parts appear (excepting a couple one-offs in specials).

There seem to be no space or time limits while the fantasy is in progress, but in reality it never lasts longer than an afternoon, [[GrowlingGut since it's always dispelled by somebody's tummy conveniently rumbling just after the adventure ends.]] They race home for snacks, the story setting disappearing behind them as they go. The only indication that anything out of the ordinary just happened is Tyrone's comment: "That was an excellent _________ adventure, don't you think?"

Notable for its heavy use of original music (overseen by Lounge Lizards founder Evan Lurie), in a different genre -- and usually not the one you're expecting -- in each episode. The photorealistic dance moves that have likewise become a series trademark are originated by live-action dancers performing as each character to that show's music; according to the creators, this process also gives the characters much of their individual personality.

For some, [[WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies this general idea]] [[WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}} sounds familiar]]. However, the [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome excellent music alone]], an expertly affectionate tribute to the genres in question, makes this show a standalone winner. It has also managed to pick up a sizeable PeripheryDemographic as one of the few current children's programs to work on multiple demographic levels simultaneously, attracting preschoolers who just love to dance to the fun sounds, elementary-schoolers who want creative storylines and adults who can appreciate the details of the musical scores and genre parodies. Refusing to use FakeInteractivity or otherwise [[EdutainmentShow try to hammer home a lesson]], the show effectively celebrates intelligence and creativity without preaching about either one.

----!!Thanks to its genre-hopping nature, this show tends to run through a ''lot'' of standard '''Examples''', often in a single episode:[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:A-C]]

* ABoyAndHisX: Austin and Boy, a dinosaur who debuts in the third season.* AccessoryWearingCartoonAnimal: Pablo only wears a cap and bowtie.* AccidentalArt: Tyrone splattering paint on the brand new canvas in "Who Goes There?" results in this.* AirGuitar: Tyrone does this during the song "Gotta Get the Job Done" in the episode "Monster Detectives".* AirplaneArms: Uniqua does this near the beginning of "Fly Girl".* AliensSpeakingEnglish: The aliens in "Mission to Mars", "News Flash", "Ranch Hands from Outer Space" and "Los Galacticos".* AllAnimalsAreDogs: The giant clam and Boy the dinosaur act like dogs.* AllBikersAreHellsAngels: Subverted to hell and back with "Special Delivery" and its "Do-Gooders".* AllCGICartoon* AmazingTechnicolorWildlife: OK, Tyrone and Pablo get a pass, and Uniqua's a special case, but what's up with Austin and Tasha? * AmericanGothicCouple: In "News Flash", the first shot of Pablo and Tyrone at their farm resembles the American Gothic painting, intentional or not.* AnachronismStew: Tons. It's {{Justified|Trope}} because the entire premise of the show is based around five kids using their imaginations to have adventures. ** A particularly ridiculous example is "Break Out!": the story takes place at a tower in a high fantasy world... that happens to have a LaserHallway, security cameras, an ''elevator'', and guards with radio headsets.* AncientEgypt: In "The Secret of the Nile".* AncientGreece: In "Match on Mt. Olympus". "Sinbad Sails Alone", oddly enough since the title character is from an entirely different mythology, features Medusa and a Siren.* AngryMobSong: "The Customer Is Always Right" and "Awesomely Bad Time" in "The Swamp Creature" may probably count. ''Probably'', because the mob here is made of only two characters.* AnIcePerson: Tasha as the Ice Lady in "The Secret of Snow".* AnimalsNotToScale* AppeaseTheVolcanoGod: "The Legend of the Volcano Sisters" revolves around the three boys trying to figure out what the titular sisters want the most or else the volcano will erupt destroying the Luau. [[spoiler: Austin realizes that Uniqua and Tasha wants to be invited to the Luau]]. * ApologeticAttacker: Austin (on a kid's level) in "The Two Musketeers".* ArabianNightsDays: In "Movers of Arabia".* ArtEvolution: The character designs were retooled a bit for the second season to up the cuddliness level, especially for Tasha and Austin.* AsideGlance: A lot. Especially for Uniqua and Tyrone. The most noticeable one is in "Castaways" when Uniqua -- realizing that Tyrone and Pablo seriously ''don't'' realise that it was Austin who helped them -- turns to look straight at the camera and then shrugs her shoulders. Earlier in the same ep, after the coconuts roll in, Uniqua side-glances at the audience for a split second and then says "Maybe we're not alone here after all".** Pablo shoots the camera an "I don't believe this" look after Tasha takes credit for finding the Yellow Lotus Flower in "The Key to the Nile."* AsteroidThicket: Tyrone, Uniqua, Pablo, and Tasha all drive through one in "Cops and Robots" and sing a song about it.* AstonishinglyAppropriateInterruption: Happens in ''Race Around The World'', during a [[MusicalisInterruptus song]] no less!--> '''Austin:''' When my toes get cold and I've had enough,\\I don't quit when the going gets tough!\\The snow kids shout...\\'''Pablo:''' Help!* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: Parodied in "Attack of the 50 Foot Worman", in which Sherman becomes a giant.* AttentionDeficitOohShiny: Pablo in "Pirate Camp" keeps getting distracted by the very shiny red boot.* BagOfHolding: ''Ohhh boy.'' The ultimate example would probably be Uniqua and Pablo's trunk in "To the Center of the Earth", which could hold several inventions, a telescope, a hammer, a thermos, a lasso, a ladder, a bucket, a net, an umbrella, a sponge mop, a hat stand, a lamp, a rake, poles, skiis, a feather duster, a bike horn, wooden spoons, a large tuba, string, marshmallows, a spring, helium-filled balloons... do I need to go on?* BaitAndSwitchCredits: Each season's opening teases a handful of episodes, but in the first season, the characters featured in each case don't always match up with the episodes themselves.* BarefootCartoonAnimal: Uniqua and Austin. Uniqua wears pink polka dot overalls an Austin wears a striped T-shirt and blue khaki shorts.** Tyrone and Pablo would also have costumes that apply to this trope 1/3 of the time. * BeachEpisode: The whole point of episodes such as "Surf's Up" or "Legend of the Volcano Sisters".* BedsheetGhost: [[spoiler:Tyrone]] becomes one in "It's Great to be a Ghost".* BerserkButton: In "Best Clowns in Town". ''Don't'' make Ringmaster Tyrone miss his train. Just don't. Especially if you're a clown.* BigNo: Oh yeah. Bad bot Tasha does this in "Cops and Robots", when Uniqua flips Pablo's back switch, which turns him into a good Bot. Also Pablo in "Blazing Paddles" and Tyrone in "Who Goes There?", "The Magic Skateboard" when [[spoiler:the eponymous Magic Skateboard falls down the hill]] and "Monster Detectives" when [[spoiler: Uniqua is about to be turned into a soccer monster]].* BigfootSasquatchAndYeti: Pablo in "The Yeti", Tyrone in "Fly Girl" and Austin and Tyrone in "The Action Elves Save Christmas Eve".* BigRedButton: In "Legend of the Volcano Sisters", the title characters threaten to cause the eruption of the volcano by pressing such a button. The doorbells in various episodes could also count, since they are always red.* TheBlindLeadingTheBlind: In "The Yeti", Tasha claims to be a Frozen North expert, but she, Uniqua, and Tyrone all get lost while searching for Yeti Pablo.* BlowYouAway: Pirate Pablo has wind powers in "Super Team Awesome!".* BoDiddleyBeat: "The Flipper!" has this as its music genre, with the first song set to the tune of "Bo Diddley".* BoobyTrap: In "Secret Mission", and "The Snow Fort".* BookcasePassage: In "It's Great to be a Ghost", "Whodunit?", and "The Masked Retriever".* {{Bookends}}: Each episode starts and ends in the titular backyard.* BottomlessPits: In "Fly Girl".* BreakingTheFourthWall: In the framing scenes, also inside the fantasy if the main character is alone.* BrickJoke: The horse appearing when Tyrone opens the door in "Who Goes There?".* TheButlerDidIt: [[spoiler: Tyrone]] in "Whodunit?", although this could be considered subverted [[spoiler: since he actually had permission to 'steal' Lady Tasha's necklace, because it was really just a mystery game]].* BusbyBerkeleyNumber: "I Get Whatever I Want" from "Robot Rampage".* CallAndResponseSong: Pretty much any song involving more than one character is this.* CallARabbitASmeerp: Pancakes are called 'zum-zum' by aliens Zuniqua and Zablo in "Ranch Hands from Outer Space".* CanadaEh: Tyrone, the moose character. [[WordOfGod Indicated]] during "Secret Mission" , in which he carries around a bottle of Spy Maple Syrup with an unmistakeable little red maple leaf on the label.** Also, in "Race to the Tower of Power", the tower looks remarkably like the CN Tower, a famous landmark in Toronto.** In "The Masked Retriever", Uniqua mentions Lake Erie.* CaptainsLog: Tasha has one in "Garbage Trek".* CartoonCreature: Ah, Uniqua. WordOfGod says that she is "her own unique species". * CatchPhrase: Various, particularly Tyrone's "''That'' certainly is convenient" when a DeusExMachina appears, and Tasha's "Oh, for goodness' ''sakes''" when...well, pretty much constantly, actually. Also, "Pablo... Pablo?... PABLO!". In addition, each episode has a setting-specific phrase, featured in the opening song, which also doubles as the show's closing...** CouchGag* TheCavalry: [[spoiler:Austin]] in "International Super Spy".* CeilingCling: Austin can walk on the ceiling in "The Tale of the Mighty Knights". Also Tasha and Pablo in "Cops and Robots".* ChekhovsGun: Tyrone's "spy maple syrup" in "Secret Mission".** Also, the thermos box in "Chichen-Itza Pizza".* ChristmasSpecial: "The Secret of Snow" and "The Action Elves Save Christmas Eve" episodes.* ClarkKenting: Parodied in "Front Page News". Also played straight in "Le Master of Disguise", in which the mystery hinges around Great Detective Austin not twigging that his prey is a little blue penguin who never bothers to conceal his face.* ClockTower / RaceAgainstTheClock: In "International Super Spy", and "Blazing Paddles".* ClownCar: The clown car in "Best Clowns in Town".* ColorCodedCharacters: When the not-so-nice dragon is converted to good, he changes from an angry orange color to a pleasant green.* CoolAndUnusualPunishment: The Tickle Table in "International Super Spy".* CoolPlane: Uniqua's propeller biplane in "Fly Girl". It's ''pink''!* CoolShades: Austin wears some at one point in "Surf's Up!", and so do Pablo and Tyrone in "Elephant on the Run!". They're also present during the "You Can Do It" song sequence in "Garbage Trek".* TheComicallySerious: Mr. Spiffy in "What's Bugging You?".* CrazyPrepared: The "Ready for Anything" song from "Mission to Mars" exemplifies this trope. The astronaut Backyardigans have everything you could think of for their trip to Mars... "''Cables and rope. Check! Flashlight and sneakers. Check! Bubble bath soap. Check!''" As Austin notes...-->''We brought a whole lot, so why take a chance?''* CuffsOffRubWrists: Tyrone and Pablo in "The Two Musketeers".* CulturalTranslation: The UK dub has a lot of this, especially when the snack is offered at the end of the episode.* CuriosityIsACrapshoot: Uniqua opening the box in "Movers of Arabia". * CuteEmUp* CuteMonsterGirl: Uniqua in "Monster Detectives" and "Scared of You", although the latter counts more since she actually looks like a monster rather than looking like herself in a torn soccer shirt.* CuteWitch: Uniqua again, in "Escape from Fairy Tale Village".

[[/folder]]

[[folder:D-F]]* DaEditor: Pablo in "Front Page News!".* DancingTheme* DarkHorseVictory: In "Horsing Around".* DarkIsEdgy: Austin as the Gloom Meister in "Flower Power".* DeadpanSnarker: Tyrone, at times audibly and more often visually. Somehow, despite the character wearing no pants, he manages to give the impression he's slouching with his hands stuck in his pockets.** This is particularly helped when he's animated with his hands in nonexistent pockets.* DeathWorld: The locations in "Save the Day". "Shark Bite Bay", "Disaster Reef", "Straits of Despair", and more.* DebutQueue: Creator/NickJr invoked this by choosing "Knights are Brave and Strong" as the premiere episode in America; it's the first time that we see everyone in action.* DefeatMeansFriendship: Just about any character who plays a villain role is turned good in the end, since this is a little kids' show and the characters can't be killed off or arrested.* DesertedIsland: The castaway island variety in "Castaways", the lost world variety in "To the Center of the Earth", and the treasure island variety in "Pirate Treasure" and "Pirate Camp".* DeusExMachina: Cheerfully {{lampshaded}} about once per episode: "Well, ''that'' certainly is convenient!" [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] as it's in the character's imagination.* DidIJustSayThatOutLoud: In "The Two Musketeers", Austin the palace guard makes no secret of his admiration for the Musketeers.* DisasterDominoes: A staple. In "Fly Girl", Uniqua knocks over several pillars; in "Who Goes There?", several mummy sarcophaguses land on each other; and in "To the Center of the Earth", large pillar-like diamonds are knocked over.** BookshelfDominoes: In "Attack of the 50 Foot Worman", much to Groundskeeper Tyrone's dismay.* DisneyAcidSequence: Uniqua/Lady in Pink's VillainSong in "International Super Spy".* DontLookDown: Tasha says this several times in "Chichen-Itza Pizza", as she has a fear of heights.* DoomyDoomsOfDoom: Shows up quite a lot, surprisingly enough. For instance, from "Tale of the Mighty Knights", during the song "We're Knights":-->'''Tyrone''': Next we crossed a river then scaled the cliffs... of ''doom''!** PainfulRhyme: The next line goes "Then we took a little break and went to the bathroom..."* DoorDumb: "Knights Are Brave and Strong" contains a particularly silly example. Uniqua the Pink's second challenge is getting through the gate the Guardian of the Gate guards, a feat no one has ever done before. Even the Guardian himself is unable to open the gate. Completely impenetrable, right? Nope-- it's just that nobody thought of ''pulling'' on the Gate's handles instead of pushing.** A minor example later in the same episode calls back to that scene. Upon finally reaching King Austin's castle, Tyrone tries to pull open the door, but fails. Pablo (the aforementioned Guardian) then steps up and pushes it, and it opens easily.* DragonRider: Every episode with Dragon features the characters riding him like a magestic steed.* DramaticDrop: Tasha drops some planks in "Ranch Hands From Outer Space" when she finds out that Zuniqua and Zablo (Uniqua and Pablo) made a fence going to the sky. In "Elephant on the Run", Uniqua drops her most prized cookie jar when she sees Tyrone and Pablo jumping off her plane with the elephant.* EggSitting: In "The Tale of the Mighty Knights".* [[EmbarrassingMiddleName Embarrassing Last Name]]: Austin, or at least his character, in "Whodunnit?". Seriously, Austin ''Frothingslosh''?** He also does time as 'Austin Stinkypants' in "Robin Hood the Clean". [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] since it's supposed to be a MeaningfulName.* EnthrallingSiren: In "Sinbad Sails Alone", Tyrone and Pablo encounter Siren Uniqua, who makes them play "Siren Says" in order to get water from her island.* EstablishingShot: Every episode begins with an overhead shot of the kids' backyard.* EveryEpisodeEnding: Episodes generally end with the Backyardigans singing the end song and rushing into one of their homes for a snack. One of them then shouts a catchphrase heard throughout.* EverythingIsBigInTexas: Cowboy Tyrone is on his way to Texas for a hoedown in "Riding the Range".* EverythingTryingToKillYou: Tyrone thinks that everyone's trying to eat him during "Escape from Fairytale Village". (They actually want him to eat ''with'' them.)* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: Boy in "Caveman's Best Friend" and "To the Center of the Earth".* EverythingsBetterWithPenguins: Pablo.* EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses: Princess Cleotasha (Tasha) in "The Secret of the Nile" and Princesses Uniqua and Tasha in "Break Out!".* EverythingsBetterWithRainbows: The rainbow in "Sinbad Sails Alone".* EverythingsBetterWithSamurai: Tyrone in "Samurai Pie", though it's unclear whether Tyrone is a true samurai or just a baker with samurai moves.* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning: Some of the choreography could definitely count as this.* EverythingsEvenWorseWithSharks: The sharks in "Save the Day".* EveryoneIsASuspect: In "Whodunit?", and "Le Master of Disguise".* EvilLaugh: Tasha's in "Scared of You", Pablo's in "Le Master of Disguise", "Blazing Paddles" and "Robot Rampage", and Uniqua's in "International Super Spy". Austin finally gets one in "Flower Power" when he portrays "Gloom Meister," though in a possible bit of {{Lampshade Hanging}}, he is forced to admit that it's not his real laugh (he just does it to sound scarier). His real laugh sounds much nerdier.* EvilPlan: In "International Super Spy", and "Cops and Robots".* ExpositoryThemeTune* {{Expy}}: If [[Manga/MermaidMelodyPichiPichiPitch Hippo]] traded all his clothes for just a propeller hat and bowtie, he would pretty much look like Pablo.* FaceHeelTurn: [[spoiler: Uniqua]] in "Monster Detectives", but [[{{CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming}} for a selfless reason]].* TheFairFolk: Tasha in "The Tale of the Mighty Knights".* FairPlayWhodunnit (Or ReverseWhodunnit if you prefer): The "Whodunit?" episode, [[CaptainObvious naturally]].* FantasyHelmetEnforcement: Tyrone wears a helmet when he rides his bicycle in "Escape From Fairytale Village", Austin and Uniqua have helmets when riding their skateboard and scooter in "Caveman's Best Friend", and all characters in "The Magic Skateboard" wear helmets as well as elbow pads and knee pads.* FantasyKitchenSink: In "Escape from Fairytale Village", "Scared of You", and "The Tale of the Mighty Knights".* FasterThanLightTravel: The "Zip Speed" in "Garbage Trek".* FastestGunInTheWest: Pablo in "Blazing Paddles". Actually, the fastest ping pong skills in the West.* FawltyTowersPlot: "What's Bugging You".* FeeFiFauxPas: Austin in "Samurai Pie", when he mentions The Great Pie in front of the Empress.* FieryRedhead: Tyrone, especially in "Best Clowns in Town".* FightingYourFriend: They frequently find themselves battling each other ("The Two Musketeers" being a good example) once they start their adventures. Although [[WordOfGod official]] best friends Tyrone & Pablo and Tasha & Uniqua are rarely pitted against one another.* FiveManBand: Although they switch character type on a regular basis... and not all of them even show up (in some cases, only three cast members are present in the entire episode).* FlashbackEffects: Tyrone has one in the form of a thought bubble during "Who Goes There?"* FloatingInABubble: In "Front Page News", Captain Bubble (Tyrone) makes a giant bubble which traps the Giant Robot.* FluffyCloudHeaven: In "Match on Mt. Olympus".* FlyingPostman: The entire "Dragon Express" episode.* FootballFightSong: The music genre for "Chichen-Itza Pizza".* ForgottenBirthday: Austin thinks this in "Scared of You". In reality Tasha was setting up a surprise party and distracted Austin by unknowingly gathering up the guests. * FourFingeredHands: With the exception of Pablo, who has mitten-like flippers.* FracturedFairyTale: In "Escape from Fairy Tale Village".* FromBadToWorse: A staple. Exemplified by the scene in "Catch that Butterfly" wherein the stagecoach is floating down a river and piece by piece it breaks apart until only the floor is left...* FullyDressedCartoonAnimal: Tasha's regular wardrobe applies to this. Some of the other Backyardigans would get full costumes on several adventures.* FunnyBackgroundEvent: In "Newsflash", during one of Uniqua's reports Pablo is having a panic attack in the background. Also, Pablo screaming his head off while being dragged behind a flying carpet as Uniqua takes a phone call from Sultan Tyrone in "Movers of Arabia".* FurryConfusion: Episodes sometimes feature the kids alongside non-anthropomorphic animals such as horses and even elephants.[[/folder]]

[[folder:G and H]]* {{Gainaxing}}: Before you [[RuleThirtyFour get any ideas]], '''Tyrone's ears'''. Particularly noticeable in the first-season opening credits.* {{GASP}}: A RunningGag in "Blazing Paddles".* GenderSeparatedEnsembleEpisode: It happens a lot. Pablo and Tyrone are best friends, and the same goes for Uniqua and Tasha. They practically spell it out for us in "Quest for the Flying Rock".* GenieInABottle: Austin in "Movers of Arabia".* GenkiGirl: Uniqua most of the time, and Tasha during "A Giant Problem".* GentleGiant: Tasha, literally, in "A Giant Problem".* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: Whenever Pablo has a panic attack -- which was almost once an episode in the first season; much less often in the following three -- one of his friends has to calm him down by calling "Pablo...Pablo?...PABLO!"* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Let us just say that the producers are aware that a ''lot'' sails over their preschool audiences' heads.* GhostSong: The songs in "It's Great to be a Ghost".* GilliganCut: In "What's Bugging You?", when Uniqua and Tyrone are about to make cupcakes:--> '''Tyrone:''' We just have to make sure that we don't make a mess.-->(Cuts to the clean bowl. After a quick clock-spin, the bowl and then the entire room is shown as messy.)-->'''Tyrone:''' I think we may have made a mess...* GirlGroup: The music genre in "Break Out!", along with Wall of Sound.* GoshDangItToHeck: During the song "Fill It Up With Ice", from "The Secret of Snow", one of Tasha's lines is "What the heck's the matter?"** Also in their cover of the Black Eyed Peas song "I Gotta Feeling", the line "Like oh my God" is changed to "Like oh my gosh".* GospelRevivalNumber: "Now Would Be a Good Time to Whistle" from "Caveman's Best Friend".* GratuitousDiscoSequence: The music genre in "The Quest for the Flying Rock".* GratuitousRussian: In "Catch That Train".* GratuitousSpanish: In "The Masked Retriever" and "Los Galacticos".* GreasySpoon: "The Big Dipper Diner" is a {{Recycled IN SPACE}} version.* GreatDetective: Pablo in "Whodunit?".* GreenLanternRing: In "Flower Power", Flower Girl's titular powers seem to drift into this territory at times. At one point she makes a ''cage'' out of flowers. Possibly a necessary evil, though, as otherwise her powers would probably wind up in [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway heart]] territory.* GreenRocks: The flying rock in "The Quest for the Flying Rock" and the Crystal of Power in "Pablor and the Acorns".* GreenThumb / PetalPower: Uniqua as Flower Girl in "Flower Power".* GrowlingGut: The majority of adventures conclude with one of the character's stomachs growling.** RecycledSoundtrack: In all but two instances of this, the sound byte is consistent. "Scared Of You" deliberately uses a different version, because it's more intimidating.* GrumpyBear: Queen Uniqua in "A Giant Problem", as well as Pablo, Tasha, and Tyrone in "Fly Girl".* TheGuardsMustBeCrazy: When Uniqua and Austin (as palace guards) are tricked by Musketeer Tasha in "The Two Musketeers", and guards Tyrone and Pablo in "The Masked Retriever".* HalfDressedCartoonAnimal: Pablo and Tyrone.* {{Hammerspace}}: Central to the concept... especially the fantasies that happen in ''interstellar space''.* HauntedCastle: In "It's Great to be a Ghost", and "Scared of You". Also, technically "Monster Detectives".* HeelFaceTurn: A common ending for any character portrayed as a villain.* HelpingGrannyCrossTheStreet: In the "I Feel Good" song from "Cops and Robots," the formerly Bad Bot sings about this being one of the things he wants to do now that he's a Good Bot.* HeroSecretService: The secret headquarters in "International Super Spy".* HeroicDolphin:The dolphin mounts in "The Great Dolphin Race".* HeroicSacrifice: Austin - on a kid's-TV level - in "The Secret of Snow". He uses the Ice Lady's (Tasha's) ice machine to save Uniqua, Pablo, and Tyrone, even though he knows that it will get him in big trouble with Tasha.* HighlyVisibleNinja: A running gag in "Samurai Pie", wherein Pablo keeps losing his balance, eventually falling on a pie tin and giving himself and Uniqua away.* TheHighQueen: Tasha in "Knights are Brave and Strong", and Uniqua in "A Giant Problem".* HilarityEnsues: It does!* HistoricalInJoke: There are a surprising number of them. The art in "Who Goes There?" and Tyrone's combed hair in "To the Center of the Earth" are just a few examples. At one point, Empress Tasha even says "Let us eat cake."* HornyVikings: In "Viking Voyage", Uniqua, Pablo, and Tyrone wear the classic helmets. Although Tyrone's horns are his real antlers.* HorseOfADifferentColor: Boy the pet dinosaur in "Caveman's Best Friend", and the racing dolphins in "The Great Dolphin Race".* HouseInspection: In "What's Bugging You?", Tasha's house is being inspected by Mr. Spiffy (Pablo) so she can join the Spiffy Club. She calls Uniqua and Tyrone from Best Pest Control to get rid of the solitary Worman spoiling the perfection. Unfortunately, everything they do seems to attract even more Wormans. And ''then'' Mr. Spiffy arrives... cue the FawltyTowersPlot.* HulaAndLuaus: "Legend of the Volcano Sisters". That is all... well, except that a different set of Hawaiian cliches are laid on thick in "Surf's Up", which features the search for legendary Tiki Beach.* HulkingOut: Pablo in the Fourth Season episode "The Flipper". After getting doused in 'space ooze' he transforms into The Flipper whenever he gets overexcited. And this is ''Pablo'' we're talking about, so...* HulkSpeak: Pablo when he transforms into The Flipper mentioned in the previous trope, which is itself a parody of the Hulk. Tasha also does this in "Super Team Awesome!".* HumongousMecha: The Giant Robot in his first appearance. However, later episodes reveal that he is an average-sized wind-up toy belonging to Uniqua.* HyperspeedEscape: In "Garbage Trek", Tyrone and Pablo use "Zip Speed".* HypocriticalHumor: Whenever Pablo has a panic attack he usually tells the others to stay calm. [[/folder]]

[[folder:I to L]]* IAmBecomingSong: If there's CharacterDevelopment in an episode, there will likely be a song about it.* IAmNotLeftHanded: From "International Super Spy":-->'''Pablo''': There's something you should know, Lady in Pink.-->'''Lady in Pink''': Oh? And what's that?-->'''Pablo''': I'm not ticklish.* IAmSong: Expect one of these when a character introduces themselves and the role they're playing.* IfMyCalculationsAreCorrect: Pablo during "Mission to Mars" and "Secret Mission".* [[{{IHaveYourWife}} I Have Your Boss]]: In "International Super Spy", this was done in the complete 1-7 sequence: 1. Boss (Tasha) is kidnapped. 2. Villain (Uniqua) calls up hero (Pablo) and says "I've got your boss". 3. Tasha yells "Don't worry about me! I can take it!" 4. Uniqua tells Pablo that if he doesn't obey orders, then she will tickle Tasha. 5. Pablo must deliver the secret containers. [[spoiler:6. Pablo succeeds in calling a friend (Austin), who in turn finds out what's going on and swings into action to help... sort of. 7. Eventually, Tasha is released... because ''Pablo'' isn't ticklish]].* ImagineSpot: In "Elephant on the Run", one of the songs takes place in and out of Uniqua's fantasy of having an elephant for a pet.* ImpossibleThief: Austin the "Grabbin' Goblin", in "The Tale of the Mighty Knights", was able to grab Uniqua and Tyrone's helmets, shields, and finally flashlights...while they were still using them!* IncredibleShrinkingMan: [[spoiler: Austin, and later on, Pablo and Tyrone]] get shrunk in "Race to the Tower of Power". Tasha gets her turn in "The Big Dipper Diner".* InevitableWaterfall: Oh yeah. "Polka Palace Party", "Catch that Butterfly", "The Secret of Snow", "Chichen-Itza Pizza", and "The Tale of the Mighty Knights" are just a few examples.* InsaneTrollLogic: Standard and unapologetic -- this being a show based around little kids playing pretend, after all. From "To the Center of the Earth":-->'''Uniqua''': Tyrone, your penny has fallen into your sandbox, here. (Pulls out a diagram of the Earth's inside and points to the Earth's crust.)-->'''Pablo''': And has fallen all the way to the center of the Earth, here. (Points to the Earth's core.)* InsecurityCamera: In "International Super Spy".* InspectorJavert: Inspector Austin of the Paris Police in "Le Master of Disguise".* InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons: The aptly-named Dragon, who plays a starring role in three episodes.* InstantAwesomeJustAddMecha: The Giant Robot, who shows up in seasons three and four.* InstantCostumeChange: Tyrone and Pablo do this near the end of "Race to the Tower of Power", Uniqua in "The Masked Retriever", Tasha in "Front Page News", and Pablo again in "Le Master of Disguise".* IntrepidReporter: Tasha in "Front Page News", and Uniqua in "Newsflash".* InvisibleParents: Some of the kids have their parents mentioned toward the end of certain episodes, but we never see them.* {{Introdump}}: During the opening song. "[[ThemeTuneRollCall Hi, I'm Pablo." "My name's Tyrone...]]" And so on and so forth.* IrisOut* IronicEchoCut: An interesting not-quite-a-cut variant in "Break Out!":-->'''Tasha:''' They'll never see us on the secret staircase.-->''(Camera zooms out, revealing that Tyrone is watching them on the security monitor)''-->'''Tyrone:''' I see them on the secret staircase!* ItHasBeenAnHonor: Pablo in "Who Goes There?".* ItsAlwaysSpring: In the titular backyard. "The Secret of Snow" and "The Action Elves Save Christmas Eve" don't count, for obvious reasons.* ItsASmallWorldAfterAll: In "Polka Palace Party", Tyrone, Uniqua, Pablo, and Austin meet up and then note how they all ''happen'' to be cowboys/cowgirls, they all ''happen'' to like the same kind of music, and that they all ''happen'' to be on their way to Cheyenne.* ItsProbablyNothing: Tyrone (as a guard) in "The Masked Retriever".* IWantSong: Uniqua and Pablo have one in "The Great Dolphin Race".* TheJeeves: Tyrone in "Whodunit?", he even has his hair specially combed like Jeeves' for that episode. Also Pablo in "Catch That Train" -- so utterly ''utterly'' devoted to having everything Czar Tyrone needs three seconds before he wants it.* TheJuggernaut: In "Chichen-Itza Pizza", the boulder chasing Tasha and Uniqua. * JumpIllCatchYou: In "Pirate Treasure", the other characters say this to Pablo as he hobbles across a log with his peg leg.* JumpPhysics: In "Pirate Camp", Uniqua and Pablo are launched into the air using only two planks and some crates.* JumpTheShark:[[invoked]] Spoofed in "Save the Day" when Tyrone jumps over a sea of sharks on a jet ski to save Tasha.* KangaroosRepresentAustralia: Austin.* {{Knighting}}: In "Knights are Brave and Strong".* KnightInShiningArmor: Uniqua and Tyrone in "The Tale if the Mighty Knights", and "Knights are Brave and Strong".* LadyInRed: Spoofed in "International Super Spy", with Uniqua as the Lady in Pink.* LameRhymeDodge: Austin in "The Two Musketeers" does several of these ''without'' the rhyme.* LaserHallway: In "Secret Mission" and "Break Out!".* LavaPit: In "The Tale of the Mighty Knights" and "The Legend of the Volcano Sisters".* {{Leitmotif}}: In season one, Pablo had his own panic attack tune.* LightningCanDoAnything: In "Match on Mt. Olympus", Austin, the God of Laughter, can shoot lightning from his hands that makes his victim laugh uncontrollably.* LightningReveal: In "Scared of You".* LimitedWardrobe: Aside from the thematic costumes they wear during the fantasies, their outfits never change.[[/folder]]

[[folder:M to O]]* MadLibsCatchPhrase: At the end of every episode, Tyrone remarks, "That was an excellent [type] adventure, don't you think?"* MadScientist: Tasha in "Scared of You".* MadScientistLaboratory: In "Scared of You", complete with cool-looking lab equipment.* MagicCountdown: In "Garbage Trek".* MagicMisfire: Quite a few in "A Giant Problem", caused by inept court wizards Pablo and Tyrone.* MagikarpPower: Tyrone as "Captain Bubble" in "Front Page News" had super bubble power.* MandatoryLine: Austin sings one line in "Knights are Brave and Strong", and speaks very little in "Best Clowns in Town". This is interesting, because much more often, he's completely absent.* MasterOfDisguise: Pablo, in, well, "Le Master of Disguise".* MeaningfulName: Uniqua = unique (because she's a CartoonCreature), and Austin = Australia (because that's where kangaroos come from).* MedievalEuropeanFantasy: In "Knights Are Brave and Strong" and "The Tale of the Mighty Knights".* MegaCity: The name of the city in "Robot Rampage".* MeritBadgesForEverything: In "Pablor and the Acorns".* MinimalistCast* MinionWithAnFInEvil: Tyrone in "International Super Spy", and Austin in "The Two Musketeers".* MissionBriefing: Tasha gives Pablo one in "International Super Spy", and Tyrone and Tasha give one in "Mission to Mars".* MissionControl: Again, Tyrone and Tasha in "Mission to Mars". Austin provides a unique variation in "Break Out!"-- he's a portable magic mirror possessed by Tasha and Uniqua, yet obeys the trope and its associated clichés almost perfectly.* MoebiusNeighborhood: Averted with the three houses behind the titular backyard.* MonsterMash: The monster dance party near the end of "Scared of You".* MoralityDial: In the episode ''Cops and Robots'', all bots have a morality switch that (child logic, gotta love it) can be flipped to 'BAD'.* MoralGuardians / MediaWatchdog: The reason why, among other things, the kids have a sword fight using telescopes ("Pirate Treasure"), and balloons ("The Two Musketeers"). And the reason why, in "Pirate Camp", "swashbuckling" means "sliding down a rope with a piece of cloth".* MotionCapture: The kids' dancing is animated this way, which explains why they often spin so quickly and their movement is perfectly synced with each other.* MrImagination* {{Mummy}}: Tyrone in "Scared of You".* TheMusical: The whole show.* MusicalisInterruptus: ** In "Super Team Awesome!", Tyrone halts the second song when a boulder comes dangerously close to plugging Old Gushie.** In "Pirate Treasure," Pablo can't finish his verse in " Falling off a Log," because he almost does just that.** Tasha abruptly ends her song in "Match on Mount Olympus" when Pablo and Tyrone ask her to play basketball with them.* TheNapoleon: In "Who Goes There?", Pablo (the shortest of the five), plays a Napoleon-esque statue.* NaughtyByNight: "The Masked Retriever", (obviously) in a non-sexual direction.* NeverSayDie: Although they kids have been close to danger, the word has never yet been used.* NiceHat: Pablo's got a nice propeller beanie. In some their imaginary adventures, the characters wear pretty cool hats as well.* NobodyHereButUsStatues: A recurring theme in "Who Goes There?" with Uniqua, Pablo, and Austin being actual pieces of artwork. It happens again in "What's Bugging You?" with Uniqua and Tyrone as a pest control service trying to hide from house inspector Mr. Spiffy (Pablo).* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: "Scared of You" takes advantage of the musical genre in play by having Pablo put on a Cab Calloway impression.* NoSeatBelts: Both space cars in "Cops and Robots", though usually the show is very careful not to do this.* NoOSHACompliance: The ice factory in "The Secret of Snow" and the sock factory in "For the Love of Socks!".* NothingCanSaveUsNow: "Save the Day", the "Uh-Oh!" song.* NothingCanStopUsNow: In "Catch that Butterfly", the "How Hard Can It Be?" song.* OddCouple: Best friends Pablo the tightly-wound and Tyrone the laid-back.* OddJobGods: In "Match on Mt.Olympus", Austin is the god of laughter, and Uniqua is the goddess of naps.** LaughWithMe:--> '''Austin''': Why did the chicken cross the playground? To get to the other ''slide''. Do ''you'' not think it's funny?* OminousFog: The fog in "Knights are Brave and Strong" and "Whodunit?".* TheOneWhoWearsShoes: Tasha is always wearing shoes of some kind, usually her red Maryjanes. The other characters don't wear shoes at all until they get a costume change in the fantasy, and even then they sometimes don't have them.* OnlyOneName: Except for in "Whodunit", with Austin Frothingslosh and Uniqua Underhood, the characters have no surnames.* OohMeAccentsSlipping: The Backyardigans drop their fantasy accents when they start singing, likely because their speaking and singing voices are two different people recorded separately.* OrientExpress: "Le Master of Disguise"* OurDragonsAreDifferent: Dragon himself.* OurGiantsAreBigger: In "A Giant Problem", and "Escape from Fairy Tale Village".* OurGhostsAreDifferent: In "It's Great to be a Ghost" and "Pirate Camp".* OurGoblinsAreDifferent: The Grabbin' Goblin (Austin) in "The Tale of the Mighty Knights" and "The Tale of the Not-So-Nice Dragon".* OurMermaidsAreDifferent: Tasha in "Viking Voyage", and then Tasha and Uniqua during "Into the Deep".* OurVampiresAreDifferent: Pablo in "Scared Of You".* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: Uniqua in "Scared Of You" and Austin in "Escape from Fairytale Village".* {{Outlaw}}: In "Blazing Paddles", we see a wanted poster of Pablo, the "Ping Pong Bandit", with a reward of $500.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:P to R]]* PantslessMalesFullyDressedFemales: Tyrone and Pablo don't always wear pants, although Austin always does. Uniqua and Tasha are also fully dressed.* PaperThinDisguise: Pablo, in ''The Master of Disguise''. All he does is change his clothing, but to the other characters his disguise is ''perfect''.* ParentalBonus: Deliberate, and clever.** "I don't make the weather. I just report it."* PilotEpisode: "Fly Girl", if you mean ''literally''. There's some debate over what the true pilot of the series is: there's "Pirate Treasure" (the first episode of the first season) in addition to an unaired (and unnamed) animated pilot from 2001 and a 1998 live-action pilot titled "Me and My Friends." Confusingly, all three of these have been given the title of "pilot" by the people behind them.* {{Pirate}}: "Pirate Treasure" and "Pirate Camp". Pablo also played a rather grumpy pirate in "Fly Girl", and a not-so-grumpy superhero pirate in "Super Team Awesome".* PirateBooty: The diamond in "Pirate Treasure", and Captain Red Boots' boot (plus a pile of gold) in "Pirate Camp".* PlanetOfSteves: During "Mission to Mars", the CouchGag phrase is "Boinga", which can mean nearly anything. As does "Ugh" during "Cave Party". * PlotTailoredToTheParty: In "For the Love of Socks", every worker gets their moment to shine. It's easy to tell because their turns come in ''exactly the same order'' as they do in the assembly line. [[spoiler:Except for Foreman Tasha; despite being at the beginning of the line, her moment's at the very end.]]* PokeThePoodle: Enforced. The MoralGuardians aren't about to let preschool characters do anything genuinely evil.-->''Who is the girl who never plays nice... and wishes that all rubber duckies would sink? Who interrupts people and never thinks twice? / Me! I'm the Lady in Pink! / Lady in Pink, Lady in Pink! / She does terrible things! / Even worse than you think!''* PoliceAreUseless: Officer Pablo justifies this in "Caveman's Best Friend".* PoorCommunicationKills: A handful of episode plots are driven by this. Examples include "The Snow Fort", "The Funnyman Boogeyman", and "The Big Dipper Diner".* PowerGlows: In "The Magic Skateboard," Tyrone finds the magic skateboard because it glows. The Crystal of Power in "Pablor and the Acorns" also glows.* [[ThePowerOfRock The Power of]] [[strike:Rock]] a ''lot'' of musical genres.* TheQuietOne: Once again, Austin.* RecordNeedleScratch: In "Blazing Paddles". The exciting background music suddenly screeches to a halt when Pablo asks "Uh...when is high noon?".* RecurringCharacter: The small martian from "Mission to Mars". One appears at the end of "News Flash", three appear at the end of "Los Galacticos" and two of them are major characters in "The Big Dipper Diner."* RedHerring: In "Whodunit?", [[spoiler:Austin leaves the manor saying that he has to go "feed his cat", looking very guilty indeed.]]* RedOniBlueOni: Inverted with Pablo and Tyrone. Pablo is blue and panicked frequently in the first season. Tyrone is orange, but more level-headed and laidback.* RhymesOnADime: Austin as the Greek poet Austicles in "Who Goes There?".* RiddleOfTheSphinx: In "The Secret of the Nile", Tasha has to give Sphinx Uniqua three gifts before Uniqua will tell her the secret of the Nile. [[spoiler:Turns out it's just saying please and thank you.]]* RobeAndWizardHat: Tyrone and Pablo in "A Giant Problem".* RobinHood: Pablo, as the title character in "Robin Hood the Clean".* {{Robinsonade}}: The episode "Castaways".* RobotBuddy: Rover in "Mission to Mars", as well as all of the robots in "Robot Rampage" before they went haywire.* RuleOfCute: Not at all overplayed, but there nonetheless (they do have plushies to sell, after all). * RuleOfThree: Nearly every episode.* RummageFail: The episode ''Eureka'' has Pablo looking in his and Tyrone's horse's pack, and every single time, he'd get about about 2 or 3 unrelated objects to what they were looking for!* RunningGag: Pablo's panic attacks.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:S and T]]

* ScoutOut: The Acorn Scouts in "Pablor and the Acorns".* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: While on a pizza delivery in "Chichen-Itza Pizza," Tasha decides to quit the job after several TempleOfDoom disasters, though she does so in true Backyardigans style - with a flashy college fight song. * SeaMonster: A playful one appears in "The Amazing Splashinis".* SequelEpisode: "Tale of the Not-So-Nice Dragon" is one for the two "Tale of the Mighty Knights" episodes from season three.* SesameStreetCred: Alicia Keys, for voicing and singing the mama alien in "Mission to Mars", Cyndi Lauper for singing in "International Super Spy," and Adam Pascal for being a narrator and singer in "Tale of the Mighty Knights". Also, Conan O'Brian as SantaClaus in "The Action Elves Save Christmas Eve"!* ShaveAndAHaircut: How Uniqua, Tyrone, and Pablo get Austin's attention in "Polka Palace Party". Austin drums out the "two bits" part himself.* TheSheriff: Uniqua, in "Blazing Paddles".* ShoePhone: Pablo's hat-phone in "International Super Spy".* ShoutOut: ** Honorable mentions go to some ''VideoGame/BioShock'' shout-outs in "To the Center of the Earth", and "Flower Power" which could be briefly described as "[[Anime/HeartcatchPrettyCure Cure Blossom]] fights [[Disney/ThePrincessAndTheFrog Doctor Facilier]]".** The music in "Heart of the Jungle" imitated the Creator/GilbertAndSullivan operas. * ShownTheirWork: You can tell that the "Caveman's Best Friend" episode takes place in the Triassic period because of the tar puddles and the fern plants.* ShrinkingViolet: Austin at first. He opens up later.* ShrugTake: Mr. Spiffy's (Pablo) reaction to the Wormans in "What's Bugging You?"* SkywardScream: '''''CLOOOOOWNS!''''' (Complete with echo)* TheSmartGuy: Austin, especially during "Race Around the World" and "Mission to Mars". Uniqua sometimes also fills this role, while Pablo is usually used to parody/subvert it.* {{Smurfing}}: Almost everything on Mars is 'Boinga'. In case you hadn't heard.* SneezeOfDoom: Uniqua (caused by dust while hiding from the Soccer Monster) in "Monster Detectives", and Austin (caused by flowers whlie hiding from Tyrone in a painting) in "Who Goes There?".* SoftGlass: The skylight Tasha and Uniqua escape through in "Break Out!". It falls to pieces on contact, without even scratching their clothes.* SpacePolice: Officer Uniqua and Sergeant Tyrone in "Cops and Robots", as well as Officers Tyrone and Tasha in "The Big Dipper Diner".* SpecialEditionTitle: Each double-length episode has one with the theme music in the style of the episode's genre.* SpecialEffectsEvolution: You only start to see difficult weather effects (like rain and hailstorms) in season three.* SpeechImpairedAnimal: The Wormans in their first two appearances.* SpinAttack: Pablo's "Bandit Slam It" move in "Blazing Paddles".* SpinToDeflectStuff: Uniqua does this in "Blazing Paddles" during the song "I Must Be Ready".* SpitTake: Uniqua does this in "Catch that Butterfly", after they've fallen off a waterfall.* SplitScreenPhoneCall: Uniqua and Tyrone have this in "Movers of Arabia".* SpiritualSuccessor: Is one to WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies and WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}, and arguably has one in WesternAnimation/BubbleGuppies, created by some of the same staff.* SpookyPainting: Spoofed with Pablo in "It's Great to be a Ghost".* StealthPun: Austin and Rover (namechecking the Austin Rover car) in "Mission to Mars", and the fact that purple Austin starts out as a ShrinkingViolet.* TheStoic: Austin in the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' parody episode "Garbage Trek". A clear instance of this is when the U.S.S. Collector is about to be sucked by the black hole; Uniqua and Tasha scream for their lives while he remains silent like he's deep in thought or something.* StorybookEpisode: "Knights are Brave and Strong", "A Giant Problem", "Tale of the Mighty Knights", and "Escape from Fairy Tale Village".* StoutStrength: Tasha, specifically from the second season onwards. An example is in "Swamp Creature", where she pulls Pablo out of the water by his snorkel ''with one hand''. Just look at her arms; she's a muscular little thing.* StraightMan: Usually played by Tyrone with Pablo as his comic foil.* StrappedToAnOperatingTable: In "International Super Spy", [[spoiler: Tyrone (accidentally), Tasha, Pablo, and Austin]] are strapped to a Tickle Table.* StreamingStars: Seen in "Cops and Robots" and "Garbage Trek".* SuperCellReception: In "Mission to Mars", a martian from Mars is able to phone Tyrone and Tasha using a cellphone.* SuperheroEpisode: Four: "Race to the Tower of Power", "Front Page News", "Flower Power" and "Super Team Awesome".* SuperheroesWearCapes: Tasha has one as Super Snap in "Front Page News" and [[spoiler: Tyrone]] gets one in "Super Team Awesome!".* SuperSpeed: Tasha as Super Snap in "Front Page News", Uniqua as The Pink Fury in "Blazing Paddles", and Pablo in "Legend of the Volcano Sisters".* SuperStrength: Tyrone in "The Legend of the Volcano Sisters"; Uniqua as Bug Girl in "Front Page News" ''and'' as Strong Blossom in "Super Team Awesome"; Pablo as Tarzan the Very Strong in "Heart of the Jungle".* SwiperNoSwiping: While you can't stop the Grabbin' Goblin from taking your stuff just by asking, he will generally give it back if you ask nicely... most of the time.* SwordFight: The first episode "Pirate Treasure", had Austin and Tyrone having a sword fight using their ''telescopes''. In "The Two Musketeers", it gets better with Uniqua and Austin against Pablo, Tyrone, and Tasha with cool parring moves like a {{Blade Lock}}, and {{Sword Over Head}}... though their swords ''are'' made of balloons.* TakeOverTheWorld: Several episodes have characters wanting this, in particular "Race to the Tower of Power".* TakeThat: In the soundtrack exclusive version of the "W-I-O-Wa" song from "News Flash," Uniqua delivers one at what often passes for the state of news-reporting these days:-->'''Uniqua''': ''I'm not that sort of newswoman who sits at a desk and talks. I'm the sort who'd rather report, 'cause being a reporter '''rocks'''!''* TakeYourTime: In "Sinbad Sails Alone", Tyrone's ship is about to literally [[spoiler: fall off the edge of the world]] within a couple of seconds. Tyrone has gotten his foot caught on a rope, making Pablo their only hope. Pablo just has to turn the wheel which drops the anchor of the ship, but it takes a ''very'' long time for him to do this. It seemed like every time the camera cut to show how close the ship was to falling, the ship always seemed be at the same distance, even though it was moving.* TalkingAnimal: All five of the characters, albeit this is almost never referenced (creating some rather odd visuals, as when Austin the kangaroo is shown ''running'').* TalkingPest: The Wormans in "What's Bugging You?"* {{Tarzan}}: In "The Heart of the Jungle" and "The Secret of Snow".* TeamShot* TempleOfDoom: Several in "Chichen-Itza Pizza".* TemptingFate: In the episodes "Follow that Butterfly" and "Chichen-Itza Pizza", the question "How hard could it be?" gets asked ''just'' before things go to hell.** Pablo has a bad habit of this in "For the Love of Socks". It gets lampshaded after the third time, and he defies it afterwards.* TenPacesAndTurn: Tasha, Uniqua, and Austin used this as a visual joke in "The Two Musketeers", when they are having, mind you, a ''politeness'' duel.* TertiarySexualCharacteristics: Played very straight with Tasha's dress, Pablo's bowtie, Uniqua's [[WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick piiiinkness]] -- and, more subtly, Tyrone's antlers.** Uniqua is a subversion: she wears overalls and also lacks eyelashes. Some viewers even [[ViewerGenderConfusion mistook her for a boy]]. That is, until some of her girlier roles in the later seasons, and until those viewers realized she was ''[[PinkGirlBlueBoy pink]]''.* ThatMakesMeFeelAngry: From "Best Clowns in Town":-->'''Tyrone''': I am ''so mad''! You made me miss my ''train''! I have a circus to lead tonight in Big City, but I can't ''be'' there because of... ''[[TheKhan CLOOOOOOOOOWNS]]''!* ThatsNoMoon: In "A Giant Problem", Tyrone and Pablo rest on a large red boulder which happens to be Tasha's giant foot. Tyrone does this again in "Escape from Fairytale Village", this time to Pablo's foot.* ThematicThemeTune: The theme song gradually climbs an octave in pitch, while the titular characters switch from regular clothes to fantasy gear and back.* ThemeTuneRollCall: "Hi, I'm Pablo!" "My name's Tyrone!" "I'm Uniqua!" "I'm Tasha!" "And my name's Austin!" "And we're...your backyard friends, the Backyardigans!"* ThirdPersonPerson: Austin as the Grabbin' Goblin in "The Tale of the Mighty Knights". Though he is capable of still using "I" to refer to himself.-->I nab them and I seize them, if I could go bad, I'd freeze them. These things that Goblin has grabbed, that Goblin has grabbed...* ThisIsNoTimeToPanic: Pablo's frantic chant during his panic attacks. Subverted to some degree in ''The Flipper!'' where, instead of panicking, he's actually excited.* TickleTorture: In "International Super Spy", this is the Lady in Pink's method of punishment.* TitleDrop: Most of the time there's a song where one of the lines (or even the title) is a TitleDrop. Also, several episodes have the characters telling each other to stop "Horsing Around", the title of one of the Season 2 episodes.* ToTheTuneOf: While the show normally averts this, ''What Do You Do With A Scurvy Pirate?'' is actually a [[FilkSong filk]] of a classic sea shanty called ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drunken_Sailor Drunken Sailor]]''[[note]]Sadly, this song is not well known outside of North America and parts of Europe. When the episode was exported, it resulted in [[AdaptationDisplacement many viewers not from the mentioned regions associating the tune with The Backyardigans]] instead of the original''[[/note]].* [[{{TraintopBattle}} Traintop Chase]]: Austin and Pablo do this in "Le Master of Disguise", the chase ending with a train tunnel escape.* TreasureMap: In "Pirate Treasure", naturally.* TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty: Austin during "The Festival of Dirt" games in "Robin Hood the Clean". He even admits it!* {{Turncoat}}: [[spoiler: Austin]] in "The Secret of Snow" may count.* TurnedToStone: [[spoiler: Pablo and Tyrone]] are petrified by Tasha as Medusa in "Sinbad Sails Alone" in a literal game of "freeze tag". Later in said game, [[spoiler:Pablo tricks Tasha into petrifying herself]].* TwitchyEye: Tyrone has one in "Best Clowns in Town" right after the clowns make him miss his train the second time, and Pablo gets one every time he's about to become the Flipper in "The Flipper".* TwoGirlsToATeam: Tasha and Uniqua

[[/folder]]

[[folder: U and V]]* UnlimitedWardrobe: Although it could be argued that their fantasy wardrobes are purely imaginary...* TheUnmasking: [[spoiler:Tasha]] in "Front Page News" does this.* UnrealisticBlackHole: In "Garbage Trek".* TheUnReveal: In "The Masked Retriever", none of the other characters find out about Uniqua's alter ego, with Austin's question of "Have you ever heard of the Masked Retriever?" left unanswered by the end-of-story stomach rumble.* UnusualEuphemism: In "The Great Dolphin Race", the characters exclaim "[[Disney/TheLittleMermaid Jumping jellyfish!]]", "Leaping lobsters!" and "Holy cowfish!". During "International Super Spy", the Lady in Pink (Uniqua) uses "Oh, for [[ForTheEvulz evil]]'s sake!". There's also the episode title "For the Love of Socks!".* VaporWear: During the first two-parter, Uniqua, as the Lady in Pink, clearly wears ''nothing'' under her jacket. She does wear her overalls at the ski slope, though.* VerbalTic: Tyrone has a habit of saying "certainly" when stating his opinion or agreeing with another character, though this is reduced a bit after the first season.* VillainSong: Expect any episode with a "good versus evil" thematic to have at least one. Notable ones include [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul0KyUjU-xA "Lady In Pink"]], [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BgsQoZ9kaQ "Me and my shadows"]], and [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBgVk1vfPWo "I am professor bug"]]* TheVoice: The mystery voices near the end of the episodes "Secret Mission" and "It's Great to Be a Ghost!" do not come from any of the main characters. They're rumored to have come from Evan Lurie, one of the show's composers. There are also announcer voices near the beginning of "News Flash".** Dragon's singing voice is provided by guest star Adam Pascal, the actor who played Roger in RENT. Total ParentService.** SantaClaus in "The Action Elves Save Christmas Eve" is heard over the phone, but never seen.* VoiceWithAnInternetConnection: Austin as the princesses' magic (compact) mirror in "Break Out".* VoluntaryShapeShifting: Pablo could turn into a bat in "Scared of You".

[[/folder]]

[[folder: W to Z]]* {{WAFF}}: Click for more info.* WallCrawl: Pablo's vacuum shoes in "To the Center of the Earth".* WallJump: Uniqua is able to do this with two trees in "Samurai Pie".* WalkThePlank: In "Pirate Treasure", and "Fly Girl".* WasntThatFun: In "Scared Of You" Austin, Tyrone, and Uniqua are warned against proceeding with their journey. [[TemptingFate They do so]], and are rewarded with a falling staircase. Uniqua is left hanging on to the top landing for dear life.--> '''Uniqua''': Hey! That was fun! Let's do it again! --> '''Tyrone''': Or let's not! * WastefulWishing: In "Movers of Arabia", [[spoiler: Pablo wastes a wish by saying "I wish I knew where we were." Cue Genie Austin, yelling "You're in Arabia! Boy, that was easy!"]]* WhipPan: Used in "The Tale of the Mighty Knights", "Le Master of Disguise", "Robin Hood the Clean", and several other episodes.* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: Tasha during "Chichen-Itza Pizza" -- logically enough, the ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' parody episode.* WigDressAccent: Austin during "International Super Spy", with a strange mustache instead of the wig.* WithCatlikeTread: According to Pablo at the beginning of "Secret Mission", having ''background music'' is a necessary part of being a secret agent. Heck, ''any'' time someone's on a stealth mission, you can bet they'll break out into a musical when they're trying not to get noticed. And it ''never'' blows their cover.* WorstNewsJudgmentEver: In "News Flash", Reporter Uniqua mistakes [[spoiler: Tyrone and Pablo's corn decoration for Crop Circles]]